German drug and chemicals company Bayer AG says net profit rose 75 percent in the second quarter thanks to lower one-time charges and strong sales of new products including anti-clotting drug Xarelto and cancer drug Stivarga.

Merck KGaA saw its profit more than double in the fourth quarter as the German pharmaceutical company benefited from higher prices for its Rebif multiple sclerosis drug and reaped rewards from its ongoing restructuring.

(AP)—Swiss drug maker Novartis AG reported a jump in fourth-quarter net profit to $2.08 billion on Wednesday, citing the lack of a $900-million one-time charge it took in the same period the previous year.